My absolute most favorite ministry on The World Race was DOOR OF HOPE.
In Johannesburg South Africa babies are being abandoned at an alarming rate. The Door of Hope is giving a loving place for those babies to be nurtured, loved and then adopted into forever families.
One of the stories we heard about was a baby abandoned at a dumpster. When the baby was found the nose and fingers had been nibbled off. The government wouldn’t take the child. Door of Hope did. No one wanted this baby but Door of Hope nurtured the baby and gave the child a place to be loved. Until the baby was adopted. When the child went to it’s new family there were 200 people waiting to receive the child. From the child who no one wanted came the child everyone wanted. That’s the hope Door of Hope is giving to abandoned children in South Africa.
We had the opportunity to love on these precious babies. We would feed them, change their nappies, sing songs to them, love them, laugh with them and make sure they received the care they needed.
I can only show you this picture because we can’t show any of the babies faces.
We worked with an amazing team of ‘MAMA’s’ from the community who give their lives taking care of these precious children.
Volunteers come from all over the world to love on these precious babies. We loved working with this amazing team and had some really great times with them.
Friday night dinners
Reckless light being introduced to Rugby
Hanging out after Rugby
Fun day off at Gold Reef City
The month we spent in South Africa was amazing. It was the climax of God teaching me how to love and love well. We learned to love babies who repayed us in giggles, poopy nappies and short snuggles. We learned how to love the team we were with by getting to know them in the deep ways we as a team knew each other.
I know every month was “MY FAVORITE MONTH” but South Africa topped my year journey off beyond what I could ever imagine.
Just another reminder to love those around you & love well.
You are loved,
<3
Ash
#TeamAsh
P.S. I was also able to paint while in South Africa and leave these for the babies. It was so cute because when the toddlers would play outside they would point to the paintings. They would say “LION!” and make a roaring noise. It made my heart super happy.
